Slattery to start bid in Topeka

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 23, 2008 by Tim Carpenter

By Tim Carpenter

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Former Congressman Jim Slattery will launch from Topeka a campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in a two- way race that places the winner in a showdown with incumbent Pat Roberts.

Slattery, who represented eastern Kansas for 12 years in Congress, plans a daylong announcement tour starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Kansas Expocentre's Heritage Hall. Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to attend.

Slattery decided last month to run and has concentrated on raising money and creating a campaign staff.

"It will be a difficult race, but I believe that Kansans desire change," he said. "Kansans want a leader who has a vision for the future and is committed to taking the actions necessary to solve America's urgent problems."

The primary includes labor union activist Lee Jones, who lost by 42 percentage points in 2004 to Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. There would have been a third Democrat on the primary ballot, but Greg Orman, an investment adviser, withdrew.

Roberts has raised $3.9 million for his re-election campaign, according to the latest finance reports. Slattery took in $289,000 during a two-week period after confirming his candidacy.

Slattery worked in Washington as a lawyer after losing the race for governor in 1994. He is expected to focus his Senate campaign on the deficit, economy, environment, health care and Iraq.

He also intends to appear at 11 a.m. at the Regents Center in Johnson County, 1 p.m. at the Wyandotte County Courthouse and 4 p.m. at Newman College in Wichita. Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson is scheduled to participate in the Kansas City-area campaign stops.

Tim Carpenter can be reached at (785) 295-1158 or timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.